Is this gun consider a swift model
If it's the gun I'm thinking of, from the time frame I'm thinking of, anybody could walk into any country store in the South and buy one for ~$2.50.
"Give me two cans of sardines, a gallon of kerosene, some chewing tobacco, and a .38 Iver Johnson."
"You bet. Need any shells?"
"Yup, and a can of peaches, thanks kindly."